Hey guys,
I was just wondering if you guys could recommend a few brands and alarms to help grow my fire alarm collection. Any feedback is helpful!
Thanks,
NJMoo3652
I’d probably be a bad help for this, because I gravitate towards anything I don’t have. However, do you have any favorites? If you have specific models in mind, you can always make a checklist of sorts and cross them off as you go. Its a way to set and meet goals for your collection.
Hi! 
Most brands of alarms you will find are very simple to use for a beginning fire alarm collection. Companies like Wheelock, System Sensor, Gentex, FCI, Federal Signal, and Faraday all make devices with little to no “surprises” in terms of their operation. Simplex, Fire-Lite, Notifier, Silent Knight, Edwards/EST, and Siemens/Cerberus Pyrotronics all make great products too, but at first you may run into issues like addressable or sync devices. Until you learn more about alarms to where you can determine which devices you can use, which is the majority of what they make, I would use caution with these manufacturers.
In terms of age, nearly all older devices will steer you clear of the issues mentioned above. If you are ready to start experimenting with a panel, please first refer to this topic: So you want to buy a FACP... .
If you want advice on a specific alarm to get, I personally would recommend starting with anything in Wheelock’s AS/NS/MT series. Very easy to find, affordable, and simple to operate. Have fun!
Thank you!
I agree with the mt because that is the only horn strobe I have. I just bought a Pyrotronics Msx from ddjcjj. Do you know any problems, tips, etc about this device?
Since you seem to be very new at this i’d highly recommend reviewing the topics in our Beginner’s Guide section –
The MSX is an addressable pull station. You won’t be able to use it as-is unless you have a panel that supports its addressable protocol. On some addressable pull stations, there is a way to isolate the switch from the addressable circuitry, but this one seems to be sealed up pretty good. Ebay seller ddjcjj is a member on this board under username ‘U8olo’, you could send him a message and ask if he knows of a way to accomplish that.
Yes, the MSX is an addressable pull station. I haven’t tried this myself, but I’m sure there’s a way to get the addressable part off of the back of the pull station so you just have access to the switch. Otherwise, unless you have an addressable Pyrotronics panel to use it with, you won’t be able to hook up any devices directly to it.
If you’re looking for more alarms on the cheap, I do have some more low-priced devices available (with more on the way) - for example, $.99 RSS strobe plates: Items for sale by ddjcjj | eBay
I’ve done it. I simply unscrewed the cover off the addressable module, then un-soldered the wire leads going into the switch. Then I simply used the wire leads. Eventually, I may wire them directly to the terminals, because that would be more convenient.
Okay thanks!